A presumptuous little boy snorted, giving the man on horseback a sidelong glance, and said, "Boy, who do you think you are that my master should come to see you? My master is from the... Oh, my..."
Before he can finish, the man on the horse raises his hand and something unknown flies out, hitting the little boy’s head. The boy rolls his eyes and collapses.
The other three little boys, who were more cunning, seeing that this man remained aloof after hearing about the Duke An’s Mansion, and noticing his overall demeanor and dress, readily assumed him to be no ordinary person. Thus, they promptly abandoned any idea of a direct confrontation, obediently returning to Zuihua Pavilion to report what they had witnessed.
From the moment Cai Wei was caught as she fell from the building, until Du Yuheng’s little boys were sent away, she had been held in this man’s arms. Once her fear and despair had gradually subsided, she finally realized that it was inappropriate.
As an innocent woman, being held so long by a stranger, under the broad daylight, is seen by the whole street, it is so damaging to public morals. Even her face turned red with embarrassment and she wished to find a crevice to sneak into.
"Young Master, please, put me down. I can manage on my own!" She moved a little, pleading softly.
At her request, Mo Ziqi looked down at her, said nothing, and bent down to let her go.
As soon as Cai Fei’s feet touched the ground, she took two steps backward with a flushed face, "Your highness, I am forever grateful for your righteous act. Your kindness and virtue, I will never forget."
Mo Ziqi’s gaze only lingered momentarily on the handsome figure, then he turned away. The young woman in front of him was certainly a breathtaking beauty, even surpassing Zhao Yang by several points, but she was just a beauty, not worthy of his excessive attention.
He nodded faintly and simply said, "You may go now."
Fei’er didn’t leave. She bit her lip, her eyes wandering, wanting to ask the name of the young master who saved her, so she could repay him in the future. However, for her, a lady to actively inquire such details of a man would inevitably have been seen as frivolous and loose, therefore she held back. She bowed to Mo Ziqi, her tone respectful yet filled with gratitude, "In that case, I will take my leave."
She cast her eyes downward, turning to hire a horse carriage to return to the mansion. As she turned, she saw Du Yuheng marching out fuming from the Zuihua Pavillion.
Cai Fei was taken aback, her flushed face turned pale in an instant. She scurried to the other side of Mo Ziqi’s horse, disregarding the norms and decorum she was supposed to maintain as a young lady. She clung onto Mo Ziqi’s robe desperately, her delicate little face taut, much like a startled rabbit.
Mo Ziqi shot a glance at her, his normally indifferent face softened a little. However, as he turned to look at Du Yuheng, the tenderness in his eyes disappeared in an instant.
Having his shoulder wound already bandaged, Du Yuheng was somewhat pale. This pale face paired with his reddened eyes made him look exactly like a vampire. Walking up to Mo Ziqi’s horse, he looked up and mockingly said, "I wonder who it was. So it was Young Master Mo of Duke Li Guo’s Mansion. Why? Are you interested in meddling in my personal affairs? Or has the young master taken a liking to my goods and wants a share of the gains?"
In the past, Du Yuheng certainly would not have dared speak to Mo Ziqi in such a tone. Back then, Duke Li Guo’s Mansion was known as the Emperor’s in-laws, a prestigious and respected imperial family leading a life of incredible luxury. At that time, upon meeting Mo Ziqi, he had no choice but to flatter and admire him.